"Postcards From Slovakia" Slovakia by coceng

Slovakia Travel Guide: 3,981 reviews and 10,227 photos

Why Do I Went To Slovakia ?...

EURO TRIP 2001
EURO TRIP 2003
EURO TRIP 2004
MIDDLE EAST TRIP 2005

EURO TRIP 2002 :
AUSTRIA
SLOVAKIA
POLAND
GERMANY
CZECH REPUBLIC
HUNGARY
MAY 2002...
Well, why couldn't I ?
It all started with a castle ruin that I got to know from doing many researches on the Net on Slovakia....
First, I just wanted to go to Bratislava, that would be enough I thought...Getting to know the capital of Slovakia, who used to be in one bigger country called Czechoslovakia (is the spelling right ?...).
Got to know some people on the Net as well....
Then, I stumbled upon the 'castle ruins' site around Slovakia & I thought' "Hey ! Maybe going to Slovakia is not bad after all...seeing at least one of these castle ruins...".
But which one ?...
After a close scrutiny, I chose to see the so-called CACHTICE HRAD !
With a story to match about a female Dracula...), this castle ruin would be my ultimate Slovakian experience !
How lucky I was getting in touch with MAREKG, who adviced me about my trip around his country, about the places I should avoid, about the journey itself..etc.
The bonus side was he would accompany me to Cachtice Hrad !
Excellent !
So, I went to Slovakia...not just seeing Cachtice Hrad but many castles (ruins or not...) as well...
Slovakia is a beautiful country...Sorry to say that Bratislava is almost drab...but don't let that deter you from coming to this city because there's a bar that you should go in to called KGB BAR !...
Places like Trencin & Kosice could only exist in guidebook beautiful photos, it's a pride seeing these 2 places at least with your own 2 eyes !
Marek continued with me to the south of Poland....
Marek, I like you very much !
I hope to be with you again...which journey ?...Let's plan NOW !

Slovakia Map

Slovakia is the 2nd country for my 2nd trip to Europe. The first is Austria for this 2nd trip...PLEASE CHECK MY AUSTRIA PAGE.
I arrived in Bratislava from Vienna on 13th May 2002...& stayed for 4 days in Slovakia.
I was accompanied by Marek in all the destinations in Slovakia & we were at these places, according to these order:
Bratislava. Many pictures on my Bratislava Page.
Cachtice Hrad. This is the highlight of me being in Slovakia. Many pictures on Cachtice Page.
Trencin
Kosice
Poprad
Next country is Poland for this trip! Please have a visit to my Poland Page, which has many links to many many beautiful photos!!!
Thank You.

Castle ruins...

SUMMARY...

From Vienna, arrived in Bratislava (Monday), took time to Devin Castle.
2nd day, an excursion to Cachtice Hrad. On the same day, arrived in Trencin.
Night train to Kosice, arrived on Wednesday.
At noon, on the same day, train to Poprad. Stayed for a night.
The following day (Thursday), took a bus to Lysa Polana, near Tatra Mountains in Poland.
Stayed 3 days total in Slovakia.
~
Slovakia, the former Czechoslovakia's less glamourous partner, emerged dishevelled and sleepy after the 'Velvet Revolution' of 1989. Although it's now holding its own in a rebuilding Eastern bloc, there's a refreshing absence of Prague-style glitz and clamour. The capital, Bratislava, is small and cheerful with a surprisingly accomplished cultural life; the High Tatras are as rugged a range as any in Eastern Europe and the peasant traditions of rural Slovakia are still evident in the villages. You'll find the Slovaks to be extremely warm, friendly people prepared to go out of their way to help you enjoy their country.
Castle ruins are almost everwhere in Slovakia. The one that I went to was Cachtice Hrad.
More on my Cachtice page.

Pros and Cons

Pros:So Many Castles ! (Mostly Ruins...) : EXCELLENT !...
Cons:Not Easy To Get By Unless You Plan Everything Properly...
In a nutshell:CHOOSE One Castle Ruin in Slovakia & Plan Yourself To Reach There...